For Ausust. n22 



231 



able features — is the best on economical yrounds. Rock 

 which crumbles when exposed to the weather should not 

 be used, nor should very rounded, smooth rocks, as the 

 latter are difficult to make and keep firm. The use of 

 pieces of concrete, clinkers, brick, broken columns, or any 

 kind of artificial stone should not be thought of. 



A more or less soft stone is not suitable however well 

 it may look at first, because frost will cause it to break 

 into chips and even crumble into powder. It is necessary 

 to be particularly careful with limestone on this account. 

 No stone varies more than this ; some kinds go in a year 

 or two. while others are quite durable. If it has a dull, 

 powderv appearance it should be rejected, if bright and 

 sparkling it may be used, but even the hardest limestone 

 had better be left gut of gardens near towns, especially 

 in smoky manufacturing districts, as it is readily afifected 

 by sulphuric and other acids. 



In some parts limestone is abundant and there is a 

 natural temptation to use it if quarried nearby, as the 

 cost is low. One great thing in its favor is that the 

 majority of rock plants like it and in this case their roots 

 cling to it with an intimacv which suggests active favors. 

 Alpines are more markedly lime lovers than others, but 

 there are some, however, which dislike it. Sandstone is 

 good, suits everything, has an excellent appearance, and 

 is durable. 



While places are to be found for rocks of all sizes and 

 shapes, they should generally be somewhat rectangular 

 and longer than wide, so that they can be bedded securely 

 with little trouble, and stones of more or less flatness fit 

 in more readily with the scheme of work than those tend- 

 ing to roundness. It is not suggested that the paving- 

 stone form is ideal, and dressed stone would look too stifT. 



When arranging the rocks they should be placed in as 

 natural a manner as possible. Start from the bottom and 

 build upwards, fixing the rocks firmly so that one can 

 stand upon them when planting, weeding, etc. They 

 should slant so that the exposed portion is at a higher 

 elevation than that which is buried, this will cause the 

 rain to run back to the roots instead of dripping over and 

 spoiling the plants below. It is very important to take 

 care and fill up the soil well behind each rock as well as 

 under it as it is laid in position. ^lake all quite firm as 

 the work proceeds, for if this is not done the result will 

 be that after heavy storms either the rocks or soil, or 

 both, will sink, and by so doing cause a great deal of 

 mischief. Placing the soil in position and then putting 

 the rocks more or less on the top is the least desirable 

 method of building a rockery. 



There is nothing in mountainous districts where alpine 

 conditions prevail so likely to mislead as the arrangement, 

 or want of arrangement, of the rocks. Some of the 

 ugliest and most desolate rock gardens are the result of 

 attempts to imitate the savage chaos of alpine boulders, 

 which is supposed to be favorable to plant life because 

 some alpines are found to be thriving among them at 

 elevations of ten thousand or more feet. Now we can 

 in our gardens provide an absurd and insignificant imita- 

 tion of" this chaos, but we cannot provide the elevation 

 with the pure mountain air, the sustained \\'inter frost 

 with its constant snow mantle, and the continuous Sum- 

 mer moisture. The strewing of boulders at random upon 

 the surface will enable a few stone crops to flourish among 

 them, but most other plants worth while going to any 

 trouble for will take the first opportunity of dying, and a 

 chaos in a garden devoid of vegetation is scarcely less 

 ugly than a rubbish heap. 



In studying the rock work of Nature in its relationship 

 to plants we should know the actual function which rocks 

 should perform in a garden, and particularly we should 

 bear in mind the frequently ignored point that in making 



a rock garden we are not constructing a garden for the 

 purpose of exhibiting rocks, but for the purpose of grow- 

 ing rare and beautiful plants. If this is kept in mind one 

 can gain many valuable hints from alpine districts. The 

 first of these is that all rocks should be so placed that the 

 roots of plants near will be able to run under them and 

 so get protection from drought in Summer and cold and 

 wet in Winter. Some ambitious rock gardens may be 

 seen with the rocks driven down perpendicularly into the 

 earth, in which position they are practically useless. Those 

 who have been in alpine districts will have noticed that 

 the fine specimens of plants are to be found — often in 

 conditions not otherwise favorable — at the edge of a great 

 boulder which slants into the ground, so that the roots 

 can run under it and get coolness and shelter as far as 

 they are likely to penetrate, which is usually many feet ; 

 and it is in the slanting fissures of rocks that many of the 

 more difficult plants grow best and most abundantly. 

 Therefore we should never place a rock without thinking 

 of the plant which is to profit by it, nor should we con- 

 sider rocks apart from roots, for the sole function of rocks 

 in a rock garden is to protect roots and not merely to look 

 rugged and picturesque : although the gaining of pic- 

 turesqueness need not be overlooked. 



According to the size of the rock garden, ridges and 

 bays may be formed, and the larger the area available, the 

 deeper the bays ; and the deeper the bays the longer the 

 ridges. Looking into a bay gives a pleasing illusion of 

 distance, also this method gives more space for plants 

 upon a given area of flat surface. Further, this arrange- 

 ment affords more varied aspects in relationship to the 

 sun, and therefore provides positions suitable to the vary- 

 ing likes and dislikes of plants as to shade or the reverse. 



Arranging the rocks so as to form pockets is advan- 

 tageous because we can then make such additions to the 

 soil as will suit the plants placed in any particular pocket. 

 For instance, some like plenty of lime, which can be 

 given them in their own compartment : others are to be 

 found which like a soil composed of three parts leaf mold 

 or peat, and so on. When lime is added it should be in 

 the form of broken lime mortar, or lime rock ; ground, 

 burnt, or slaked lime should never be used for this pur- 

 pose. 



When placing the plants in their positions one must 

 have a clear idea of their characters, not only as to their 

 soil requirements, but if they like or dislike full sun ; if 

 they are vigorous and comparatively rampant or other- 

 wise. Disregard of the latter point has frequently caused 

 dense, low-growing little plants to be soon killed by those 

 of a taller and spreading character. It is best to give the 

 most vigorous species a section by themselves, or plant 

 them at the lower levels and the weaker ones above. If 

 there is only room for a small rockery it would be pref- 

 erable to confine the selection to the smaller, choicer kinds 

 and leave the more rampant ones out altogether. 



After planting, the plants should be surrounded by 

 small stones or broken rock, this keeps the soil cool and 

 also minimizes the adverse effects of wet in the Winter. 



Growing alpines require perhaps even more of that 

 patience which one must have in all horticultural matters. 

 Some species may take several years to become estab- 

 lished, so we must not throw a plant out because it does 

 not thrive immediately, for so long as there is life there 

 is hope. 



While there are some species of alpines which have 

 defied all attempts at growing them in captivity, the 

 majority of them can be successfully made to thrive. The 

 greatest trouble is with the wet in Winter. In their native 

 homes the seasons create two distinct conditions : a Sum- 

 mer of about three months and a dormant period for the 

 remainder of the year, during which they are continuously 



